Collins Memorial Library: Music: Music Education

Getting Started

This page provides resources targeted to K-12 music education and instruction.

If you're interested in a broad topic in music education, or would like to browse for inspiration, try one of these Library of Congress call numbers.

MT: Instruction and Study

MT1-960 Instruction and study
- MT9-15 Printed pedagogical aids
- MT155 Music theory for children
- MT740-810 Instrumental techniques for children
- MT898-915 Vocal techniques for children
- MT918-948 School music
  - MT920-925 Kindergarten
  - MT930-948 Elementary schools. Junior high schools. High schools

For a specific topic, try a keyword search in PRIMO.

Searching by Subject

In addition to keyword searching, subject searching can be an effective research tool. Subject headings are a form of tagging, in that they represent the content of the material and provide ways for you to efficiently locate more materials that are conceptually related. Explore these examples of subject headings in music education:

School music -- Instruction and study

Music -- Instruction and study

Music in education

Games in music

Musical ability in children

Instrumental music -- Instruction and study

SInging -- Instruction and study -- Juvenile

Choral singing -- Instruction and study

Choral singing -- Instruction and study -- Juvenile

Online Resources : K-12 Music

The Wind Repertory Project
a comprehensive database of wind literature, expanded by contributions of band directors/conductors, students, and wind band enthusiasts worldwide. Search by instrumentation/ensemble, form/style or composer category.
Carnegie Hall : Music Educators Toolkit
Developed through Carnegie Hall’s five-year residency in a New York City elementary/middle school.
Diverse Composers of Wind Band Music
A compiled list of pieces from diverse composers who write K-12 music. Not all pieces are levelled.
NAfME Resource Library
National Association for Music Education resource page
Save the Music : Music Education Resources
Society for American Music : K-12 Teacher Resources

Featured Journals

Explore articles in music education pedagogy, research, and curriculum in these featured journals:

To further expand your search, try one or more of the subject databases below:

Music Periodicals Database
Provides indexing, abstracts and full-text, for international music periodicals. Content covers the full spectrum of subjects and all aspects of music, including music education, performance, ethnomusicology, musical theatre, theory, popular music forms and composition.
ERIC (Education Resource Information Center)
The Education Resource Information Center, provides access to education literature and resources.
Education Database
Gives users access to top educational publications. The coverage spans the literature on primary, secondary and higher education as well as special education, home schooling and adult education.
Professional Development Collection (Education)
Designed for professional educators, provides full-text of high quality education journals, including many peer-reviewed titles, it also contains educational reports.

For additional Education resources, see:

Education - Teaching
by Charlene Floyd Last Updated Apr 10, 2025 39 views this year

Featured Books

Music Learning and Teaching in Culturally and Socially Diverse Contexts by Georgina Barton
Call Number: MT1 .B37 2018
ISBN: 9783030070311
Publication Date: 2019-01-02
This book examines the inter-relationship between music learning and teaching, and culture and society: a relationship that is crucial to comprehend in today's classrooms. The author presents case studies from diverse music learning and teaching contexts - including South India and Australia and online learning environments - to compare the modes of transmission teachers use to share their music knowledge and skills.
Music As a Vehicle by Ashley Cuthbertson; JCB EdPro (Joel Boyce) (Editor); Jessica Siddiqi (Index by); Damascus Media (Justin Hardin) (Cover Design by)
Call Number: on order
ISBN: 9798991451208
Publication Date: 2024-10-21
Educational consultant Ashley Cuthbertson shares personal stories from her career as a K-12 music educator to provide the step by step framework that has helped hundreds of music educators create affirming learning environments and design fresh and engaging music curriculum and instruction that meets the diverse and ever-evolving needs of today's learners.
Popular Music Pedagogies by Matthew Clauhs; Bryan Powell; Ann C. Clements
Call Number: MT10 .C615 2021
ISBN: 9780367266578
Publication Date: 2020-12-31
Provides readers with a solid foundation of playing and teaching a variety of instruments and technologies, and then examines how these elements work together in a comprehensive school music program.
Teaching Music to Students with Differences and Disabilities by Alice M. Hammel; Ryan M. Hourigan
Call Number: Online access
ISBN: 9780197689318
Publication Date: 2024-09-27
This landmark text offers a comprehensive manual and reference guide that introduces those in the field of music education to best practices when teaching music to students with differences and disabilities.
The Sage Handbook of School Music Education by José Luis Aróstegui (Editor); Catharina Christophersen (Editor); Jeananne Nichols (Editor); Koji Matsunobu (Editor)
Call Number: MT1 .S2 2024
ISBN: 9781529790474
Publication Date: 2024-11-01
The handbook addresses philosophical foundations, social justice challenges, the envisioning of a transformative curriculum, and critical issues in music teacher education, and presents a global perspective.
Decolonising and Indigenising Music Education by Te Oti Rakena (Editor); Clare Hall (Editor); Anita Prest (Editor); David Johnson (Editor)
Call Number: MT1 .D44 2024
ISBN: 9781032265766
Publication Date: 2024-05-22
This vital collection of scholarship presents music in education as a social and political action, and shows how to enact Indigenising and decolonising practices in a wide range of music education contexts.
Narratives and Reflections in Music Education by Tawnya D. Smith (Editor); Karin S. Hendricks (Editor)
Call Number: MT1 .N37 2020
ISBN: 9783030287061
Publication Date: 2020-02-04
This volume offers chapters written by some of the most respected narrative and qualitative inquiry writers in the field of music education. The authorship and scope are international, and the chapters advance the philosophical, theoretical, and methodological bases of narrative inquiry in music education and the arts.

Professional Associations

International Society for Music Education (ISME)
Serves music educators around the world, representing all levels and specializations within music education.
Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)
Empowers music teachers nationwide to become better educators through networking, leadership, mentoring and educational opportunities.
National Association for Music Education (NAfME)
NAfME is a collaborative community that supports music educators and advocates for equitable access to music education.
Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA)
WMEA's mission is to support music educators in an effort to ensure that every student in Washington State has access to a comprehensive, sequential music education taught by highly qualified and certified teachers. A federated state unit of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) since 1937.